Wind damage conter-measures

ABSTRACT

A wind damage counter-measure system including a breakaway overhang mount such as a breakaway bracket and one or more shear points or pins intended to permit breakaway of a roof overhang in high wind conditions. The breakaway overhang mount may include or engage a hinge plate, for example mounted to a header. The hinge plate may be secured to the header via nails, screws, bolts, adhesive, or some combination thereof and also may be configured to be secured to a structure via a base. The base may include multiple channels for overhang or other structural components. Slots for insertion of one or more side boards may also be included. Additional elements such as side blocking and wings may be included.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/382,166 titled “WIND DAMAGE COUNTER-MEASURES” and filed 31 Aug. 2016in the name of the same inventor as this non-provisional application.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally relates to wind damagecounter-measures, for example in the event of high winds, tornados, orhurricanes.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the subject technology include a wind damage counter-measuresystem. The system preferably includes a breakaway overhang mount suchas a breakaway bracket and one or more shear points or pins intended topermit breakaway of a roof overhang in high wind conditions. Thebreakaway overhang mount may include or engage a hinge plate, forexample mounted to a header. The hinge plate may be secured to theheader via nails, screws, bolts, adhesive, or some combination thereofand also may be configured to be secured to a structure via a base. Thebase may include multiple channels for overhang or other structuralcomponents. Slots for insertion of one or more side boards may also beincluded. Additional elements such as side blocking and wings may beincluded.

This brief summary has been provided so that the nature of the inventionmay be understood quickly. Additional steps and/or different steps thanthose set forth in this summary may be used. A more completeunderstanding of the invention may be obtained by reference to thefollowing description in connection with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate aspects of a wind damage counter-measure in theform of a truss boot.

FIG. 4 illustrates aspects of a wind damage counter-measure in the formof a breakaway overhang mount.

FIG. 5 illustrates aspects of a wind damage counter-measure in the formof a truss boot with a breakaway overhang bracket.

FIG. 6 illustrates aspects of a wind damage counter-measure in the formof a security plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/382,166 titled “WIND DAMAGECOUNTER-MEASURES” and filed 31 Aug. 2016 in the name of the sameinventors as this non-provisional application is hereby incorporated byreference as if fully set forth herein.

Briefly, aspects of the subject technology include variouscounter-measures against “roof lift” and/or other wind damage.

During a storm, tornado, hurricane, or other high wind condition, windwill often blow against the side of a structure. The wind may then pushup against a roof overhang, and if strong enough, push up the trusssystem supporting the roof overhang and thus the roof.

When the roof is lifted off, the structure may lose its support to keepvertical walls in place. High wind may also pull up plywood and/or othermaterials installed on the roof by working loose fasteners. The liftedroof, plywood, degraded structure, and/or other materials may becomedangerous flying debris. Aspects of the subject technology are intendedto address these dangers.

FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate aspects of a wind damage counter-measure in theform of a truss boot.

In many cases, a weak point of a structure is where a truss ties a roofoverhang to vertical walls of a structure. Aspects of the subjecttechnology are intended to allow a truss and/or associated roof overhangto be secured while offering an outside breakaway potential to reducechances of wind damage and/or other wind damage during high windconditions.

These figure show truss boot 101 according to aspects of the subjecttechnology that preferably is slid over an end of truss 102. The trussmay secure a roof overhang.

As shown in FIG. 2, boot 101 may be attached to a structure via nails,screws, bolts, or any other things that pass through optional holes 103.Any number of holes and/or no holes may be used. Other forms ofattachment such as adhesive may be used.

In some aspects, truss 102 secures an overhang of a roof. Thus, in ahigh wind condition, boot 101 may allow the truss and/or overhang to bereleased without significantly damaging other parts of the roof. Ofcourse, some damage may occur, but the damage should be less than wouldoccur without use of boot 101.

FIG. 4 illustrates aspects of a wind damage counter-measure in the formof a breakaway overhang mount. This counter-measure includes one or moreshear points or pins that are intended to permit breakaway of a roofoverhang in high wind conditions.

In FIG. 4, hinge plate 401 is mounted to header 402. The hinge plate issecured to the header via nails, screws, bolts, or any other things thatpass through optional holes 403. Only some of the holes are identifiedin FIG. 4. Any number of holes and/or no holes may be used. Other formsof attachment such as adhesive may be used.

Breakaway bracket 404 is shown via arrows engaging to hinge plate 401.The bracket preferably is configured to hold a support element and/orstructure 405 such as a 2×4 for a roof overhang. Holes 406 may beprovided to enable attachment of the supporting element and/or structureto bracket 404, again via nails, screws, bolts, or any other things.Other mechanisms for attachment such as adhesive may be used.

In preferred aspects, breakaway bracket 404 is secured to hinge plate401 via safety pin 407 thought breakaway hinges 408. The pin preferablyis held in place by key or cotter pin 409. Other forms of securing thebreakaway bracket to the hinge plate may be used.

In high wind conditions, bracket 404 is intended to break away fromhinge plate 401. For example, safety pin 407, hinges 408, and/or pin 409may break to permit release of an overhang while preferably reducingdamage to an associated structure.

FIG. 5 illustrates aspects of a wind damage counter-measure in the formof a truss boot with a breakaway overhang bracket. The structure shownin FIG. 5 is similar to the one shown in FIG. 4 except that hinge plate501 is configured differently. Namely, hinge plate 501 is configured tobe secured to a structure via base 502 and includes multiple channels503 and 504 for overhang and/or other structural components.

In some aspects, one or more slots such as slot 505 may be provided forinsertion of one or more side boards into either or both sides of winddamage counter-measures according to aspects of the subject technology.The slot(s) may also run all the way through aspects of the subjecttechnology to permit a side board to pass completely through. Additionalslots and/or other features may be provided for insertion and/orattachment of other boards and/or structural elements.

Side blocking and/or wings 505 may be provided to secure board(s), otherroof component(s), and/or other structural element to hinge plate 501.The wings may help keep wind from blowing under a roof between suchstructural elements. For example, a 2×6 or other structure elements maybe connected to one or more sides of a hinge plate via side blocksand/or wings 505 according to aspects of the subject technology. Thestructural element(s) may then extend to side(s) of one or more otherhinge plate(s). Plywood or other materials may then be secured to thosestructural elements. One possible result is that no, little, or lesswind may be able to get under the structural elements and/or lift theroof.

In some aspects, the boot may include such wings on both sides asdepicted. Alternatively, a boot according to aspects of the subjecttechnology may include side blocking and/or a wing on only one side, ona front or back, on some other locations. The side blocking and/or wingsmay also be omitted.

FIG. 6 illustrates aspects of a wind damage counter-measure in the formof a security plate. Security plate 601 is intended to support trusssystem 602, for example including plywood or other structural elements.The security plate is intended to enhance structural integrity insupport of the other counter-measures discussed above.

The invention is in no way limited to the specifics of any particularembodiments and/or examples disclosed herein. For example, the terms“aspect,” “example,” “preferably,” “may,” and the like denote featuresthat may be preferable but not essential to include in some embodimentsof the invention. For another example, “holes” shown in the figurerepresent optional openings for attachment via nails, screws, bolts, orany other things. Those holes may be omitted, for example if attachmentis via adhesive.

A different number of hole than those depicted may be used. Likewise,all indications of size such as “2×4,” “2×6,” and depicted pitches(e.g., angles) are exemplary but not limiting. The subject technologymay apply to any size of components and pitches. Other variations interms of numbers and sizes are within the scope of the invention.

In addition, details illustrated or disclosed with respect to any oneaspect of the invention may be used with other aspects of the invention.Additional elements may be added to various aspects of the inventionand/or some disclosed elements may be subtracted from various aspects ofthe invention without departing from the scope of the invention.Singular elements imply plural elements and vice versa. Many othervariations are possible which remain within the content, scope, andspirit of the invention, and these variations would become clear tothose skilled in the art after perusal of this application.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wind damage counter-measure system comprising:a breakaway overhang mount; and one or more shear points or pinsintended to permit breakaway of a roof overhang in high wind conditions.2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the shear points or pins compriseshear points.
 3. A system as in claim 1, wherein the shear points orpins comprise pins.
 4. A system as in claim 1, wherein the breakawayoverhang mount further comprises a hinge plate.
 5. A system as in claim4, wherein the hinge plate is mounted to a header.
 6. A system as inclaim 5, wherein the hinge plate is secured to the header via nails,screws, bolts, adhesive, or some combination thereof.
 7. A system as inclaim 4, further comprising a base; wherein the hinge plate isconfigured to be secured to a structure via the base.
 8. A system as inclaim 7, wherein the base includes multiple channels for overhang orother structural components.
 9. A system as in claim 1, furtherincluding one or more slots for insertion of one or more side boards.10. A system as in claim 1, wherein the breakaway overhang mount furthercomprises a breakaway bracket.
 11. A system as in claim 10, wherein thebreakaway bracket engages a hinge plate.
 12. A system as in claim 10,wherein the breakaway bracket is configured to hold a support element orstructure.
 13. A system as in claim 12, wherein the support element orstructure comprises a 2×4 for a roof overhang.
 14. A system as in claim10, wherein the breakaway bracket is configured to hold plural supportelements or structures.
 15. A system as in claim 1, further comprisingside blocking.
 16. A system as in claim 1, further comprising wings.